Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

My Air Fryer Turkey Burgers are made with ground turkey, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, onion, garlic, and simple seasoning. They are juicy, full of flavour, and ready in under 20 minutes; perfect for a quick lunch or easy family weeknight dinner.

This recipe is made without egg and without breadcrumbs, so the burgers are lighter and very simple to prepare. The mayonnaise helps keep the lean turkey moist as it cooks, while the Worcestershire sauce adds a lovely savoury taste without needing too many extra ingredients.

Turkey burgers can dry out easily if they are overcooked, but the air fryer makes the cooking process much easier. The patties cook evenly, stay juicy inside, and only need flipping once. Serve them in burger buns with lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, and your favourite sauce, or keep them lighter with salad, roasted vegetables, or Air Fryer Frozen French Fries.

These easy turkey burgers in the air fryer are also a good option when you want something lighter than beef burgers, but still want a proper burger with good flavour and texture.

Why This Recipe Works

• These air fryer turkey burgers are made without egg or breadcrumbs, so they are simple, light, and easy to prepare.

• Mayonnaise adds moisture and helps keep the ground turkey juicy while it cooks.

• Worcestershire sauce gives the burgers a deeper savoury flavour without making the recipe complicated.

• The burgers cook quickly in the air fryer and are usually ready in 10 to 12 minutes.

• They are easy to serve as classic turkey burgers, turkey cheeseburgers, or lighter lettuce-wrapped burgers.

• This recipe works well for busy weekdays because the patties can be shaped ahead of time and cooked when needed.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Ground turkey – Ground turkey with a little fat gives softer and juicier burgers than extra lean turkey breast mince. If you only have very lean turkey, the mayonnaise will help stop the burgers from drying out.

• Mayonnaise – This keeps the turkey burgers moist and gives the patties a softer texture. You only need a small amount, and the burgers will not taste like mayonnaise.

• Worcestershire sauce – Adds umami flavour that works really well with ground turkey. It makes the burgers taste richer without needing lots of extra seasoning.

• Dijon mustard – Adds flavour and helps lift the taste of the turkey. You can use yellow mustard if that is what you have.

• Grated onion – Grated onion adds moisture and flavour to the turkey patties. If the onion is very watery, squeeze out a little of the liquid before adding it to the bowl.

• Burger buns and toppings – I usually serve the burgers in buns with lettuce, tomato, pickles, red onion, cheese, bacon, ketchup, mustard, and extra mayonnaise.

How to Make Homemade Turkey Burgers in Air Fryer

Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add the mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, grated onion, garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper.

Mix everything gently with your hands or a fork until the ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix the turkey mixture, as this can make the burgers firm after cooking. The mixture will feel softer than beef burger mixture, especially because there is no egg or breadcrumbs, but it should still hold together once shaped.

Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape them into burger patties. Make the patties slightly wider than your burger buns because they will shrink a little as they cook. Press a small dent in the centre of each patty with your thumb to help them cook evenly.

Place the patties on a plate or tray and chill them in the fridge for at least 20 minutes if you have time. This step helps the turkey burgers firm up and hold their shape better in the air fryer.

Preheat the air fryer to 383°F / 195°C for 3 minutes. Place the turkey patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each one. If your air fryer basket tends to stick, spray it lightly with oil before adding the patties.

Cook the turkey burgers for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them carefully halfway through. The exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the patties and your air fryer model. They are ready when the centre reaches 165°F / 74°C on a meat thermometer.

If you want to make air fryer turkey cheeseburgers, add a slice of cheese on top of each patty during the last minute of cooking. Close the air fryer drawer and let the cheese soften.

Let the burgers rest for 2 minutes before serving. Place them in burger buns with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, cheese, and your favourite sauce.

Recipe Tips From the Chef

• Do not overmix the turkey mixture. Mix just until everything comes together, then stop.

• Chill the patties before cooking if you have time, as my recipe has no egg or breadcrumbs.

• Flip the burgers carefully with a thin spatula, as turkey patties are more delicate than beef burgers.

• Use a meat thermometer to check the centre. Ground turkey should reach 165°F / 74°C.

• Do not press the burgers while they cook. This pushes out the juices and can make them dry.

• Add cheese during the last minute of cooking so it has time to soften without making a mess in the air fryer.

• Let the burgers rest for a couple of minutes before serving so they stay juicy.

Storage Instructions

You can keep cooked air fryer turkey burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let the patties cool first, then store them without the buns, salad, cheese, or sauces.

To reheat, place the turkey patties in the air fryer at 350°F / 175°C for 3 to 4 minutes, or until hot all the way through. You can also reheat them in a frying pan over medium heat with a splash of water and a lid on top to stop them from drying out.

You can freeze cooked turkey burger patties for up to 3 months. Wrap each patty well, then place them in a freezer bag or freezer safe container. Defrost them overnight in the fridge before reheating.

You can also prepare the uncooked patties ahead. Shape them, place them on a plate or tray, cover well, and keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.

Variations

For air fryer turkey cheeseburgers, add a slice of cheddar, Swiss cheese, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or American cheese during the last minute of cooking.

For spicy air fryer turkey burgers, add chilli flakes, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or finely chopped jalapeños to the turkey mixture. Serve with spicy mayo or sriracha sauce.

For Mediterranean turkey burgers, add chopped parsley, dried oregano, lemon zest, and a little crumbled feta to the mixture. Serve them in pita bread or flatbread with salad and yogurt sauce.

For BBQ turkey burgers, brush the cooked patties with BBQ sauce during the last 1 to 2 minutes in the air fryer. Serve them with cheese, pickles, and red onion.

For low carb turkey burgers, skip the bun and serve the patties with salad, avocado, grilled vegetables, or lettuce wraps.

For turkey burger bowls, serve the sliced patties over rice or salad with cucumber, tomatoes, pickles, and a spoonful of sauce.

Serving Ideas

Serve these air fryer turkey burgers in toasted burger buns with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, cheese, and burger sauce. They are also delicious with ketchup, mustard, garlic mayo, chipotle mayo, or a simple yogurt sauce.

For a classic burger meal, serve them with air fryer home fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, coleslaw, corn on the cob, or a simple green salad.

For a lighter meal, serve the patties without buns, over salad, or in lettuce wraps. Each turkey burger patty has around 210 calories before adding toppings. They also work well in meal prep bowls with rice, salad leaves, pickles, and a little dressing.

You can also slice the cooked patties and tuck them into wraps or pita bread with salad and sauce for an easy lunch the next day.

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